
Bayer 04 head coach Kasper Hjulmand made just one change from the 6-3 win over VfL Wolfsburg: Aleix Garcia was recalled to the starting line-up after suspension at the expense of Ezequiel Fernández. Lucas Vázquez was included in the squad for the first time since late February having recovered from his calf injury, but Jarell Quansah missed out again. In the clash with the best team of the second half of the season so far - BVB had won 10 of their last 12 league games - the Werkself initially focused on maintaining defensive solidity. Dortmund had more possession at the beginning but didn't really threaten until the 17th minute with Daniel Svensson's shot, which the well-positioned Loïc Badé managed to claw away from the far corner of the net with his head.
Bayer 04 began to make more inroads in attack around the half-hour mark, with both Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane warming the gloves of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. With more of the play taking place in the Dortmund half, Leverkusen got their reward in the 42nd minute. Robert Andrich won the ball on the edge of the box, pulled the trigger and found the corner with a bouncing shot to put the visitors in front.






Following the restart, Dortmund upped the tempo, while the Werkself defended alertly with organiser Edmond Tapsoba and waited for opportunities on the counter. Hjulmand made the first change with Patrik Schick replacing Kofane on 54 minutes, and the Czech was involved immediately. After receiving the ball from Maza, Schick aimed for the near corner but Kobel saved with his body. Bayer 04 largely kept the hosts at bay after that with controlled possession. More substitutions followed with Ernest Poku and Vásquez coming on for Nathan Tella and Montrell Culbreath (74;).
Bayer 04 were given one scare when Serhou Guirassy struck the bar from a tight angle (83'). Shortly after that, Schick missed the chance to make it 2-0 for Leverkusen when Kobel saved his header from Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. The Werkself held on during three minutes of added time and celebrated their success wildly - the second win of the season in Dortmund after the 1-0 victory in the DFB Pokal.





Next up for the Werkself is a home game against FC Augsburg on Matchday 30. Kick-off at the BayArena is at 15:30 CEST on Saturday 18 April.
Match stats:
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel – Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – Ryerson (Kabar 75'), Bellingham (Özcan 75'), Svensson (Beier 59') – Sabitzer (Chukwuemeka 64'), Brandt – Guirassy, Fabio Silva (Inacio 64')
Bayer 04: Flekken – Andrich, Badé, Tapsoba – Culbreath (Vázquez 74'), Garcia, Palacios, Grimaldo – Maza (90'+2 Tillman), Tella (Poku 74') – Kofane (Schick 54')
Goal: 0-1 Andrich (42')
Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)
Yellow cards: Bensebaini, Guirassy, Beier / -
Attendance: 81,365 at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK (sold out)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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